NMFA - Government and You E-News

April 28, 2009

1. Association Testifies at Appropriation Hearing: The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Chet Edwards (D-17th/TX), held a hearing on Thursday, April 23rd to listen to several agencies and organizations. The subcommittee regularly holds hearings to listen to groups that want to support certain appropriations for the 2010 appropriations process. Barbara Cohoon, Deputy Director of Government Relations for the National Military Family Association joined other organizations such as Friends of Veterans Affairs (FOVA), National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS), and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) to testify on behalf of service members of all components, retirees, their families, and survivors.

Dr. Cohoon highlighted several of the Association’s top priorities: increased funding for childcare services, alternative housing arrangements for veterans, and new or expanded Commissaries in areas experiencing growth due to BRAC. In her statement, she stressed the need for Congress to fully fund the effort of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to make medical records easier to transfer between the two agencies. Additionally, Ms. Cohoon asked the subcommittee to appropriate 100 million in funding to upgrade schools in overseas locations. Other issues were included in the full written testimony which can be found on our website at www.nmfa.org/testimonies.

Representative Zach Wamp (R-3rd/TN) raised a question from his constituents about assisting military families. He extended an invitation to the National Military Family Association to visit his office to discuss why people may be prohibited from helping military families and what to do about it. Ms. Cohoon spoke of programs and ways that people can get in contact with organizations that support service members and their families. Representative Wamp also inquired about the state of military families related to the economy and whether this could be related to the increase in suicide rates in service members. Ms. Cohoon made the point that if a service member is thinking about money problems back home, he or she may not be fully focused on doing their job. In response to the question about suicide rates, Ms. Cohoon expressed the importance of the community being educated on signs and symptoms of mental health problems. She also stated that there is a shortage of mental health providers that could address these issues early on.

National Military Family Association thanks the Subcommittee for the opportunity to testify at the hearing and for their constant attention to the well-being of military families.

2. Five States Pass Compact in the Month of the Military Child!: Alaska, Indiana, Maryland, Texas, and Washington all found a great way to say “thank you” to military children in the Month of the Military Child. Each State passed the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children and has sent the legislation to their respective Governors. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels is the first from these States to sign the bill into law, making Indiana the 15th State to enact the Compact. Alabama and Hawaii are close to passing the legislation as well. This is tremendous news for our military families!

National Military Family Association has worked hard to help move the Compact forward in these States. In addition to submitting testimony and writing letters of support, Candace Wheeler, Deputy Director for Government Relations, served as the Chair of the Maryland Task Force for the Compact and testified in support of both the House and Senate bills. Liz Larson, our new Western Region Field Coordinator, testified twice in Texas. Dick Loney, a volunteer for our Association, helped push the bill forward in Indiana by briefing the Governor’s Chief of Staff and his State Senator on the Compact, contacting members of the committees, and testifying in support of the bill. He was present when Governor Daniels signed the legislation. Our Association Representative Paula Pawlowski helped support the bill in Alaska by educating her Congressman and others on the Compact.

We are proud of our contribution to the Compact’s progress in these States. We congratulate the Department of Defense Regional State Liaisons for all of their hard work, as well as others who have contributed to this success. Together, we are truly making a difference in the lives of our military families!

3. Military OneSource Expands Counseling Sessions: Military OneSource announced an increase in the number of nonmedical counseling sessions it will now offer to service members, Guard and Reserve members, and their families. As of April 1, 2009, eligible service members and their families may now receive 12 sessions per person, per issue, and per counselor within 120 days. The new 12-session limit applies to face-to-face, short-term solution-focused telephonic consultations, and online consultations. Previously Military OneSource allowed 6 sessions. For those who are currently enrolled, but began Military OneSource nonmedical counseling sessions prior to April 1st, your counselor must contact Military OneSource to request the additional 6 sessions. If you have finished the 6 sessions, you may contact Military OneSource to get reassessed for the additional 6 sessions.

According to Military OneSource, additional sessions will be granted on a case-by-case basis by them. If you need counseling for a different issue, you must call Military OneSource and speak with a consultant to get another referral for a different counselor. You can only see a counselor for a maximum number of 12 sessions.

For more information, call (800) 342-9647 or go to: www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/home.aspx.

4. Post 9/11 GI Bill Applications Accepted: Starting May 1, 2009, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will begin accepting applications for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The application form is available online.

The form requires that individuals currently eligible for another education benefit make an irrevocable election from their existing program to the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Typically individuals who are eligible for more than one benefit may use a combined total of 48 months of entitlement. Therefore, for those individuals eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) program, please be advised that if you have entitlement remaining under the MGIB, the number of months of Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement you will be eligible for will be equal to the number of months remaining under MGIB. However, if you exhaust all of your MGIB entitlement, then you may be entitled to a maximum of 12 additional months of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Starting May 1, 2009 VA will begin processing applications for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and you will receive a letter explaining VA’s decision regarding your eligibility for the program. Payments for the Post-9/11 GI Bill will not be processed until August 1, 2009.

Go to www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-22-1990-ARE.pdf to access the application form which includes instructions for submitting completed applications.

(Source: http://www.gibill.va.gov/)

5. New VA and SG Positions: The U.S. Senate confirmed Ladda Tammy Duckworth to be Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs on April 22, 2009. She will direct the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Public Affairs and Intergovernmental Communications, oversee their public affairs operations, and homeless veterans’ programs. She is the former Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and serves as a Major in the Illinois Army National Guard. She was injured in 2004 while serving in Iraq as a helicopter pilot.

President Barack Obama nominated Major General (Dr.) Charles Bruce Green to become the 20th Air Force Surgeon General. Maj Gen Green is currently the Air Force Deputy Surgeon General. His appointment is pending approval by the U.S. Senate. For Maj Gen Green’s biography, go to: www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=5613.

(Source: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1650 and http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123145140)

6. Swine Flu Information for Military Families: National Military Family Association, along with other Associations, received an advisory from the Under Secretary of Health for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Michael J. Kussman, MD, which contained important information about the swine flu. For full details, see www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=swine_flu.

7. Scholarships for Military Children and Spouses: ThanksUSA is planning to give 500 deserving military dependents (children age 24 and under or spouses) $3,000 scholarships to attend school this fall. Scholarship recipients will be selected on the basis of financial need, academic record, demonstrated leadership, participation in school and community activities, and a goal statement. Preference will be given to children or spouses of service personnel killed or injured during active duty.

To be eligible for these scholarships you must be a dependent child or spouse of an active-duty service member (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard). Visit the ThanksUSA Scholarship website for further eligibility details.

The scholarship application deadline for the 2009 fall-term is May 15, 2009, or until 10,000 applications are received (whichever occurs first). If 10,000 applications are received before May 15, 2009, then a notice will be posted on the ThanksUSA home page.

(Source http://www.thanksusa.org/main/scholarships.html)

8. Last Week to Apply for Free Training in the Personal Finance Profession: National Military Family Association, in association with the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education® (AFCPE) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation is accepting applications for the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Accredited Financial Counselor® Fellowship. This program will provide up to 200 military spouses with the education necessary to enter the financial counseling career field.

The fellowship covers the costs associated with completing Accredited Financial Counselor® training and testing. Upon successful completion of the program and required practicum, the participant will be awarded the Accredited Financial Counselor® designation from AFCPE®.

Many employers such as credit unions, financial aid offices, and community housing agencies need well-trained, ethical, and caring financial counselors to meet the increasing demand for financial counseling services. Military spouses can fill this need while building a rewarding career that is flexible to the demands of the military family lifestyle.

Applications are only accepted online at www.nmfa.org/fellowship and must be received by midnight EDT April 30, 2009.

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